The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-12-22
HANGED At CHARLES CITY.
Chester Bellows Pays the Ex'
tremest Penalty for the Murder OF
Alice Waterman.

Charles City, Iowa, Special Telegram,
Dec 17.-All preparations for the hanging
of Bellows had been completed this morn
ing, and there was nothing to do but to
await the hour. In the morning the rural
inhabitants began to pour into the town.
At o clock around the jail was excitement.
A multitude gathered, thinking that they
would be afforded an opportunity to wit
ness the execution, but their desire was turn
ed away unqualified. Beside Il few reporters,
the sheriffs OF the different counties OF the
state and those authorized by law none
were to witness the execution. Bellows
last night on earth was one not soon to be
forgotten by the faithful death watchers.
Up to 8 O'Clock he manifested the same
fearless disposition suggested By the words
he spoke to the warden at Anamosa. He
begged him to tell the sheriff to hang him
early in the morning that he might
get to hell i'll time for breakfast Short
ly after 8 O'Clock the sheriff
entered his cell with letter from his sis.
ter, Mrs. Waterman, the contents OF which
will never be known. The letter was hand
ed to Bellows, and Sheriff Clark took oc-
casion to admonish him to prepare for
eternity, Us he was to be surely hanged in
the morning Bellows looked up into his
face, saying that he would laugh at him on
the galiows. The sheriff stepped from his
cell, and soon he heard the moans from Bel
lows weeping over the last written words
from q devoted sister, An hour was
spent in alternate weeping and
swearing. Shortly after 10 o'clock he
made IL break for liberty, raising n large
armchair to strike down one OF the guards
as he was bent over feeding the fire. He
was prevented in this and went to his cell
cot and lay down. He went to sleep right
away, and did not awaken until 4 Il. m,
when he arose and again went to abusing
the guards, and demanded that he be liber-
ated. The guards gave him no satisfac-
ton, and he again went to his cot, and
slept for over an hour. He woke for the
last time on earth shortly after Z, and re-
fused to accept OF any food, whatever. At
| 1890 the jail enclosure was thrown OPEN
and the persons who had tickets passed in
A terrible sound greeted their ears. 1t
was the voice OF Bellows in his cell resist
ing the officers as they were putting the
shackles upon him. He succeeded in in
| tiictng an ugly wound by biting one OF the
guards hands. He was forced to the
wall and firmly bound. At 1O:43 o'clock
Sheriff Clark stepped on the platform,
calling in firm, clear voice the names
OF the twelve iurymen, each respond
| ing to his name. The death warrant was
then read to Bellows in his cell
and at 1915 the death march commenced.
The window from the criminals cell had
been taken out and Il stairway leading up
to the gallows erected. Up they assembled,
the sheriff leading, followed by his deputy.
Then came Bellows in stocking feet partly
carried by two strong men. His strength
| had failed him. He took a position over
the trap and stared at the audience for a
moment, his face wearing sad, detected
look. His legs were pinioned, but not a
word escaped his lips until Sheriff Clark
adjusted the moose. Then he broke
down, crying "Please don't. Please
don't. Please don't. Please don't" The
moose was then frightened, when, in aim ost
inaudiable words, he said: Ppm innocent"
His supporters stepped on either side
OF him, Sheriff Clark moved to the rear,
and at 1886 o'clock, with that terrible lie
fresh on his lips, the trap was sprung, and
Bellows ushered into eternity. Nine min
utes after the trap dropped life was practi-
cally gone. He was cut down at Ills.
An examination proved that his neck had
been broken in two places. No relatives
witnessed the execution, and no one would
accept the remains. 1t was buried in the
cemetery, but it is rumored that it will not
long remain there.